Rana rocks Boro with terrific performance

Photo: Tim Bradley

THAT'S OUT . . . Mel Whittle, playing for Hollinwood, traps Shaw's Saim Ghouri leg before wicket in the Tanner Cup clash at Lime Lane.

AUSTERLANDS put the skids under Littleborough's title push with a terrific performance in the JW Lees Bitter Pennine Cricket League Premiership.

Sitting just above the bottom two, the Uber Street club were very much second favourites going into the clash.

However, a superb individual display by professional Sachin Rana coupled with later order belligerence from Mark Peters saw them to an against the odds success.

Paid man Rana, who has stared in the Indian Premier League, and Peters came together with Austerlands teetering on 96 for six.

Adopting 'attack is the best form of defence' approach, the seventh wicket pair added 90 priceless runs.

Not a man to dilly-dally, Rana made 75 from 81 deliveries ­- the Indian struck 10 fours and three sixes ­- and Peters hit virtually a run-a-ball 38, lifting Austerlands to a satisfactory total of 202.

It was then over to Rana the bowler, with the Indian recording season's best figures of seven for 23 to help skittle Boro for 140.

Peters also played his part, stumping danger man Clinton Perren for 56, off the bowling of Andy Young.

Saddleworth were also on a high after overcoming Norden by two wickets at Well-i-Hole.

Overseas amateur Nauman Akram bagged his maiden five-wicket haul in the competition as the visitors slumped to 98 all out.

Saddleworth were eight wickets down with four runs to win when number 10 Ryan McGrath strolled to the wicket. He only faced one ball which he promptly hit for six!

Rehan Rafiq had a profitable afternoon for Glodwick.

The Pakistani pro took four for 17 from his 10 overs as hosts Crompton were reduced to 143 all out.

Rafiq then finished unbeaten on 60 to complete a six-wicket success with more than 14 overs to spare.

DISMISSED

Royton brought Greenfield's recent good run of form to an end at The Paddock.

Batting first, the visitors were dismissed for 164, which Denny Hulme's side knocked off with five wickets to spare.

Leaders Walsden didn't have it all their own way at home to lowly Middleton.

All was going to plan as paid man's Umesh Karunaratne figures of six for 27 helped limit the basement boys to 118.

Despite facing a meagre target, Walsden were made to work hard for the runs, losing seven wickets before crossing the winning line.

In the remaining top-flight fixture, Rochdale climbed up to third place in the standings after a comfortable six-wicket defeat of second-bottom Monton and Weaste.

Results ­-

Premiership: Austerlands 202 (S Rana 75), Littleborough 140 (C Perren 56, S Rana 7-23); Crompton 143 (R Rafiq 4-17), Glodwick 146-4 (R Rafiq 60 n.o); Monton and Weaste 84 (T Avery 4-37), Rochdale 87-4 (W Bosisto 51 n.o); Greenfield 164, Royton 165-5; Norden 98 (N Akram 5-28), Saddleworth 101-8; Middleton 118 (M Lee 39, U Karunaratne 6-27), Walsden 121-7.